Get informed at city budget hearings

Residents should give priorities on taxing, spending

As the race toward this year's Democratic primary picks up, city denizens must be careful not to be sucked into a distracting vortex of personality politics and campaign rhetoric. Rather, Rochesterians should focus on the most crucial matter before the city - its long-term financial health - and demand that candidates for mayor do the same.

With Mayor Thomas Richards, City Council President Lovely Warren and Green Party businessman Alex White are jockeying for popular support ahead of the 2013 election, the budget process unfolding in the coming weeks should make for an ideal try-out period.

After all, the city lives and dies by its budget, and balancing this labyrinthian $600 million spending plan in the face of mounting challenges will be no small task.

In order to appropriately press candidates for forward-thinking solutions to a dire picture of surging obligations and dwindling revenues, residents should take advantage of this year's Voice of the Citizen forums. These meetings, like the one held at School 1 Wednesday night, let the public compare city expenditures, and tell officials how to best put the people's money to use.

Richards and Warren have intimate knowledge of city spending; and White, a perennial challenger is about as informed as a City Hall outsider could be. Average taxpayers should claim their right to be similarly acquainted with the facts.

How should city government close a $27 million budget shortfall with chances for increased state aid looking increasingly remote? What services or servants could residents live without?

Those concerned about Rochester's future shouldn't squander the opportunity to attend a VOC session. Too, they should demand creative ideas from those seeking the city's highest seat.

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Get informed at city budget hearings

Rochester residents should give leaders their priorities on taxing and spending.

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